Origins The name "Setauket" is derived from the historic
Algonquian-speaking
Setalcott Indians, who had lived in the area before its colonial period. In 1655, a handful of land-speculating colonists orchestrated the purchase of the Setauket area from the local natives. The region's first European settlers were English migrants from
New England. This was the first settlement in what later became the
town of Brookhaven, and both the hamlet and town use the 1655 date as their origin. During the 17th century, Setauket was synonymous with the colonial town of Brookhaven. During the 1660s, the settlement was temporarily renamed "Ashford". This change was facilitated by
Captain John Scott, a professional
mercenary hired to clear out the
Native American Indians. He was an early settler of Setauket and an important leader in Long Island's early history who briefly served under the title of "President of Long Island". A crafty
land speculator, Scott claimed at one point to own a third of the island, including the Setauket area. Despite the questionable nature of many of his claims, John Scott had enough power and support to rename Setauket for his ancestral homeland in England,
Ashford, Kent, and to construct a stately home named Egerton.
John Woolman, a well-known preacher and journalist, noted having attended a
Quaker meeting at "Setawket" in the spring of 1747.
American Revolution In the
American Revolutionary War, the 1777
Battle of Setauket was fought on the village green. At the time,
Loyalists controlled Setauket and had fortified the
Presbyterian church for use as their stronghold. A
Patriot force led by General
Samuel Holden Parsons sailed across
Long Island Sound from
Fairfield, Connecticut, proposing to attack the Loyalists. Three hours of gunfire ensued before Parsons withdrew and returned to Connecticut, with minimal casualties for either side. During the gunfight, Parsons' men took cover behind "Patriots' Rock", which remains near the village green with a commemorative plaque. Because of this rock's massive size, it provided more than sufficient cover for the soldiers. Some of the bullets were embedded in the walls of the extant Caroline Church of Brookhaven. From 1778 to 1781, the
Culper Spy Ring passed information about British troop movements gathered in New York City to
George Washington. The spy ring consisted primarily of Setauket residents, including its leader
Benjamin Tallmadge and key agent
Abraham Woodhull. The Culper ring was highly successful and alerted Washington to such plots as a surprise attack on the newly allied French forces, a scheme to counterfeit Continental currency, and the secret defection of a general in the Continental Army (afterwards known to be
Benedict Arnold). Washington later spent a night in Setauket during his 1790 tour of Long Island. During the British occupation, residents held religious services at the c.1729 Caroline Church (
Episcopal) while occupational troops used the Setauket Presbyterian Church. The pulpit of the
Presbyterian church was destroyed, and several gravestones from the surrounding cemetery were moved as part of the fortifications. Services resumed after the war until lightning hit the church in 1812. The Presbyterian church was rebuilt in 1812. The village green continues to be owned by both churches.
Modern history The 19th century brought industry to
East Setauket. Shipbuilding, which had begun as early as 1662, prospered as new shipyards populated the section of Setauket Harbor known as Dyers Neck. These supplemented larger operations in neighboring Port Jefferson. Among the vessels built at Setauket were the
Adorna in 1870 by David Brewster Bayles, which was the largest
square-rigged sailing ship built on Long Island outside of
Brooklyn. (At that time, Brooklyn was considered part of Long Island, and the largest sailing vessel built at Port Jefferson, the
Martha E. Wallace of 1902, was a
schooner.) A likeness of the
Adorna has pride of place today above the main entrance of Setauket's elementary school. Better known is the famous, or infamous, schooner yacht
Wanderer built at Setauket in 1857 by William J. Rowland at the direction of Captain Thomas B. Hawkins, who would later command her. The
Wanderer was sold to new owners after her first cruise, and they tried to have the vessel secretly converted into a
slaver at Port Jefferson in 1858, largely employing outsiders. Suspicious residents alerted authorities, and the vessel was captured by the
USRC Harriet Lane off Port Jefferson as it attempted a hasty departure. Sadly, authorities in New York returned the vessel to its owners, and she later completed what is considered the last successful American slaving voyage to Africa. She did so without Captain Hawkins, who quit before the vessel was released. What is less well known is that the
Wanderer later served in the
Union Navy during the
Civil War as the
USS Wanderer and captured two small
blockade runners. From 1876 until 1904, East Setauket also ran a rubber factory for the Long Island Rubber Company. By the early 20th century, nearly all industrial activity within the Setaukets had ceased. Following the 1873 completion of railroad service from New York City to
Port Jefferson, the Setaukets began functioning as a summer resort town. Into the mid-20th century, relatively wealthy families started settling in the non-industrialized sections of the Setauket waterfront. . In the post-World War II era, Setauket experienced a population boom, as the remaining agricultural lots were filled in with residential developments. The Old Setauket Historic District was established to counteract this change, and a sizeable proportion of Setauket's housing stock continues to be pre-war. Extant historical homes include the 1709
Thompson House and the 1830
Sherwood-Jayne Museum. The
Frank Melville Memorial Park was established in 1937 and preserves much of the land around the Setauket Mill Pond. The Setaukets were also influenced by the philanthropy of
Ward Melville, owner of what would become
CVS Corporation, throughout the Three Village area. Melville founded
Stony Brook University, the campus of which abuts the Setaukets on their western side. A minority of the university's students and faculty now live in the Setaukets. Melville also created a
New England–style village district in neighbouring
Stony Brook, being the closest commercial hub to Setauket's western areas and complementing the role of
Port Jefferson to the east. East Setauket is home to
Renaissance Technologies, one of America's most profitable hedge funds, which was founded by Stony Brook University mathematics professor
James Harris Simons. In 2012, local politicians formed a planning committee for the section of
New York State Route 25A bordering Stony Brook University, shared between Setauket and Stony Brook. Much of this corridor is currently underused, with a handful of businesses in small
strip malls. The concept is to create a more walkable downtown area that may attract business from students and long-term residents alike. In May 2014, a bicycle path known as the Greenway Trail opened, connecting Setauket and Port Jefferson Station. Plans are being made to further expand the bicycle route to
Wading River by converting defunct railroad tracks. The Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Cross, headquarters of the
Jerusalem Patriarchate in America, is located in Setauket. ==Geography==